Door lock



I. PITEL ET AL DOOR LOCK 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed April 16. 1968 N l l l S A I R M l m MR v; C N IE LN VERI OS M M, NH \HuHw V 1 5 9n G I I! 5 m in? R MW ATTORNEYS l. PlTEL ETAL Dec. 29, 1970 DOOR LOCK 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed April 16. 1968 zl/Anmmw' A T TORNE VS I. PITEL ET AL DOOR LOCK 5 Sheets-Sheetfi Filed April 16, 1968 lNl/E/VTOPS CF I TE L CORNINE 5. SI LVERMAN ATTORNEYS Dec. 29, 1970 l. PITEL ET AL 3 ,550,412

DOOR LOCK Filed April 16, 1968 5 Sheets-Sheet 4,

INVENTORS I. 'PITEL F. C.,CORNI&1

E R. SJ SILVE MAN A TTORNEYS Dec. 29, 1970 PITEL ET AL. 3,559,4fi2

DOOR LOCK Filed April 16, 1968 s Sheets-Sheet 5 By WM AT TORNEYS Ulmd States Patent 3,550,412 DOOR LOCK Irving Pitel, Metuchen, Floyd C. Cornine, Red Bank,

and Richard S. Silverman, Union, N.J., assignors to Automatic Merchandising Machine Mfg. Corporation,

Aveuel, N.J., a corporation of New Jersey Filed Apr. 16, 1968, Ser. No. 721,644 Int. Cl. E051) 63/06 U.S. Cl. 70-461 17 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A lock for securing an outer door to an inner door through interaction of its parts on moving the outer door, bearing the lock handle, toward the inner door, bearing the lock retainer in order to secure the parts together, the lock retainer yielding until the lock handle is properly positioned therein for convenient closing of the lock.

This invention relates to locks, and more particularly to a door lock adapted to conveniently secure a first door to a second door, and specially adapted for use in connection with vending machines and other door installations wherein it is desirable to provide means for automatically compensating for variations in the relative juxtapositioning of parts and in the use thereof. Such differences may, for example, consist in variations in the relative space between the doors and in the relative vertical and horizontal alignment of the parts.

The invention is adapted to automatically adjust the lock parts to compensate for variations such as above described without interfering with the efliciency and operation of the lock.

The door lock of the invention is provided with means for yieldable centering and accurate securing of the lock handle in the lock retainer-achieved automatically, easily and conveniently, to assure accurate and positive locking of the doors.

Devices heretofore proposed for this purpose have generally been objectionable due to their complexity, high cost of initial manufacture, and requirement for substantial maintenance. These objections in devices heretofore proposed have been overcome in the device of this invention, as disclosed herein.

In the drawings, wherein similar reference characters indicate like parts:

FIG. 1 is an isometric, partly broken, elevational view of a door lock embodying the invention, shown in position just prior to locking engagement of the parts,

FIG. 2 is a similar view of the parts, shown locked in place,

FIG. 3 is a top plan view of the parts shown in locked position taken on line 3-3 of FIG. 2,

FIG. 4 is a front, partly broken view of the lock retaining means shown in open position,

FIG. 5 is an isometric exploded view of the lock body assembly in one embodiment of the invention,

FIG. 6 is a similar view of the lock retaining means,

FIG. 7 is an isometric view of a floating nut and nut retainer which may be used pursuant to the invention,

FIG. 8 is a rear elevational view of an assembly including the same, taken at line 8-8 of FIG. 6,

FIG. 9 is an isometric, partly broken front view of the housing member and the aperture showing keyway slots therein,

FIG. 10 is an isometric, partly broken, side view of the handle member, showing key 37 thereon,

FIG. 11 is an isometric, partly broken, view of a handle retaining means utilized in one embodiment of the invention,

FIG. 12 is a side cross-sectional view of a lock body assembly embodying the invention, shown in position just prior to locking engagement of the parts,

FIG. 13 is a similar view of the parts shown locked, and

FIG. 14 is an enlarged sectional view of the lock body assembly, taken at line 1414 of FIG. 12.

As will be seen from the drawings, forming part hereof, this invention relates to a door lock, having features, as will be described below, such that, as the operator presses the outer door toward the inner door, the lock members touch and automatically align and center, to permit easy and convenient securing of the doors together notwithstanding variations in the relative position of the parts.

The door lock 11 (FIGS. 1-3) in one embodiment of the invention comprises a lock body assembly 12, and lock retaining means 13. The lock body assembly 12 (FIGS. 5, 9l4) is comprised of a handle member 21 and a housing member 22. The handle member 21 is positioned in an aperture 31 extending the length of the housing member 22 (FIG. 12) the housing member 22 having keyways or slots 34 (FIG. 9) therein which extend from the front and along a portion of the inner walls thereof. The handle member 21 is maintained in position by handle retaining means 23 (FIG. 11) which may consist of a lockwasher member 35 and a partially open internal lockwasher member 36. The handle member 21 comprises a head portion 2.5 and a bolt or leg portion 26. The head portion 25 has keys 37 (FIG. 10) extending exteriorly along a portion thereof. The handle member may move rotationally with respect to the housing member 22, and translationally as well (FIGS. 12 and 13) due to the spring interconnection means 38. The housing member 22 is (FIG. 12) comprised of a face portion 27 and a jacket portion 28. The face portion has a recess 33 therein; the jacket portion 28 encloses a segment of the head portion 25 and the leg portion 26 of the handle member 21. A further feature of the housing member 22 is (FIGS. 1, 3) an arm member 29, adjustably secured to one portion of housing member 22 by any suitable connection means 30.

The lock retaining means 13 (FIGS. 6 and 2) in an embodiment of the invention, is comprised of a channel guide member 41, a hat member 42, a floating nut assembly 43, and a lock stop member 44. The channel guide member 41 has apertures 50, 54, and 55 therein and elongated slots 56. The hat member 42 and channel guide member 41 are movably connected by securing means 45 (FIG. 6) extending through the apertures 54, 62 and urging (FIG. 3) the channel guide member 41 and hat member 42 together by spring member 57 thereon. The hat member 42 is also movably secured to the inner door B by securing means 47 (FIG. 6) passing through slots 58 (FIG. 1). The floating nut assembly 43 is comprised (FIGS. 6-8) of a shell or nut retainer 52, formed to floatingly hold nut member 53, and support member 61, to which retainer 52 is secured. Support member 61 is movably secured to the channel guide member 41 by fastening means 46 which comprise (FIG. 6) bolt members 63, sleeve members 64, spring members 65, and nut members 66. The bolt members 63 extend through the slots 56 in the channel guide member 41 and, through the slots 67 in the floating nut assembly 43; the sleeve members 64 are (FIG. 3) interposed about the bolt member 63 between the channel guide member 41 and the floating nut assembly 43; the spring members 65 are interposed between the support member 61 and the bolt member 66 fastened to the end thereof. The lock stop member 44 has (FIGS. 4, 6) a lug 49 thereon which registers with an aperture in the channel guide plate 41 to prevent outward movement of the channel guide plate 41 and provide a connection of the parts (FIG. 1) which may be broken when desired by the user (FIG. 4). The lock stop member 44 is movably secured to the stiffener member C through slots 59 by setting means 48.

Yieldable and adjustable motion in the lock retaining means 13 is achieved by interaction of several relational movements (FIG. 3). For example, the securing means 45 and the fixing means 47 permit the channel guide member 41 to move translationally and angularly (FIG. 4) with respect to the hat member 42. Further, the fastening means 46 permit the floating nut assembly 43 to move translationally and angularly with respect to the channel guide member 41. The hat member 42 and the lock stop member 44 are mounted for vertical-translational and angular movement, the hat member 42 being mounted on the inner door B by fixing means 47 and the lock stop member 44 being mounted on the stiflfener member C by setting means 48.

In operation (FIGS. 1-3) for example, the door lock 11 is operated by moving the handle member 21 toward lock retaining means 13 (FIGS. 12l3) resulting in the leg portion 26 extending into the aperture 55 (FIG. 1) in the channel guide member 41 and the aperture 60 (FIG. 7) in the nut retainer, and the threaded aperture 51 in the floating nut. I

With continued pressure on the handle member 21, force is transmitted through the leg portion 26 to the floating nut 53 and then through the nut retainer 52 to the rest of the floating nut assembly 43, the floating nut assembly 43 yielding in the direction of the force and trans: mitting the force through the fastening means 46 to the channel guide member 41. In turn, the channel guide member 41 yields, in one direction, and transmits the force through the securing means 45 and the hat member 42, while being restrained by fixing means 47 on the inner door B: The channel guide plate 41 can move in the other direction angularly about the lug 49 (FIGS. 3, l, 2, 4) but is restrained thereby from outward movement, while being further restrained by setting means 48 (FIG: 3) on the stiffener member C.

During these movements of the lock restraining means 13 (FIG. the lock body assembly 12 goes through some yieldable and adjustable movement itself. The arm member 29 of the housing member 22 bears against the channel guide member 41 to assure more accurate centering and more positive interconnection of the lock parts. Upon completion of the pressure-yielding movement above described, the leg portion 26 will be properly positioned in the floating nut assembly for locking the parts togethen Rotational movement of the handle member 21 (FIGS. 1, 2) will firmly secure the handle member 21 and the floating nut member 53 by drawing them to gether, thereby securingthe outer door A to the inner door B.

When the doors have been secured together, the hanmember 22; then the tumbler 32 may be locked by means of a conventional key. On rotation of the key inserted into tumbler 32 (FIG. 13) of the handle member 21, springurgedpins 67 may thereby be extended or retracted from the slots 68 inthejacket portion 28, to lock or unlock the handle member 21. Any other desired lock mechanism.

may be used.

The operation of opening the inner door B, for access to the storage area (the front door A being open) shown for example in FIGS. 1 and 4, is this: The operator. grips the channel guide member 41 at the end area thereof adjacent the aperture 54 (wherein the fastening means 45 is movably positioned) and that end is pulled out towards the operator, thereby canting the opposite end of the channel guide member 41 (adjacent the aperture 50) inwardly so that the aperture 50 of channel guide member 41 (FIG. 6) loses contact with the lug 49 of lock stop member 44. Then the channel guide plate 41 is rotated until clear of the lock stop member 44; the inner door B may then be moved outwardly for access to the storage area. To close the inner door B, the above operation is reversed.

While the foregoing disclosure of exemplary embodiments is made in accordance with the patent statutes, it is to be understood that the invention is not to be limited thereto.

The invention claimed is:

1. A lock for securing a first member to a second member, comprising: I

(a) a lock body assembly secured to the first member,

said lock body assembly comprised of a housing portion having an aperture therethrough,

a handle portionmounted on the housing portion and extending through the aperture thereof, disposed therein in a given axial plane, and

handle retaining means movably secured to said handle portion'to retain same in said housing portion-so asvto permit rotational and translational movement of said handle portion wit respect to said housing portion, and I (b) lock retaining spring means mounted on the-second member, comprising spring means at a first point,

and pivot: meansat a second point, laterally spaced spaced from said given axial plane, said spring means and said pivot means enabling relative translational and angular movement of said lock retaining means with respect'to said lock body assembly in the plane of said lock body and angularlythereto, providing yieldable and .complementary engagement with the handle portion of. said. lock body assembly, to --firmly lock said first andsecond-members. together. 1

2. In a door lock as described in claim 1, said lock retainingmeans\ comprising;=- Y

a channel guide portion having a'plurality of apertures and slots therein; 1 t t 1 a floating nut assembly portion, first complementary mcans"mova-bly securing said floating nut member to said channel guide member, so as to permit translational-and angular movement of said floating nut member with respect to said housing member anda complementary portion thereon for complementary locking engagement with the handle member of said lock body assembly,

-means foryielding-of said first complementary means and-said complementary portion as pressure is applied to said handlemember towards a' position for "said handlemember' whichpermitsZ-lockingof said handle rnemberand said complementary portion,

thereby locking said first and second members-together, and t a hat portion," second complementary means interconnecting said hat member with said channel guide member so as a) permit translational and angular movement of said channel guide plate with respect to said hat member, and third complementary means movably securing said 'hat member to said second nrember, so as to permit translational and angular movement of said hat member with respect to said se ndmem 3 In' a 'door lock as described in claim 2, the handle portion of said lock body assembly comprisingi a head portion, a tubular extensionof said head iportion, shaped to permit positioning in said aperture of 4. In a door lock as described in claim 3, the housing portion of said lock body assembly comprising:

a face portion, having a recess therein, the recess being shaped to receive the head portion of said handle member therein; and

a jacket portion, extending from said face portion, and shaped to permit positioning of said handle member therein.

5. In a door lock as described in claim 4, the housing member of said lock body assembly further comprising:

an arm portion, fourth complementary means movably securing said arm member to said housing portion, so

as to permit translational and angular movement of said arm portion with respect to said housing portion,

allowing extension of said arm member into an abutting relationship with said lock retaining means, for

bearing of said lock body assembly with said lock retaining means as an aid for accurate locking of said first and second members together.

6. In a door lock as described in claim 5, said lock retaining means further comprising:

a lock stop member, a stiffener member, and fifth complementary means securing said lock stop member to said stiffener member, so as to resist outward movement of said lock retaining means and said second member during the securing of said first and second members together.

7. In a door lock as described in claim 6, the jacket portion of said housing portion further comprising key slots on the aperture thereof.

8. In a door lock as described in claim 7, the head portion of said handle portion further comprising key portions thereon, for complementary registry with said key slot of the housing portion.

9. In a door lock as described in claim 8, said handle retaining means comprising a lock Washer member and an internal washer member, so as to enable said handle member to move rotationally in the aperture in said floating nut member into locking relationship with said lock retaining means, and further enabling the head and neck portions of said handle portion to move translationally with respect to said housing portion so that said handle portion may be locked to said housing portion.

10. In a door lock as described in claim 9, said floating nut assembly further comprising a floating nut member, a nut retainer shaped to house said floating nut member so that said floating nut member can move trans- ],ationally and angularly with respect to said nut retainer,

and a support member, to which is secured said nut retainer, with apertures therein through which extend said first complementary means.

11. In a door lock as described in claim 10, said housing portion further comprising:

a flange, extending from one side thereof and having apertures therein, the arm member abutting said flange and having slots therein, said fourth complementary means extending through said apertures in said flange and said slots in said arm member.

12. In a door lock as described in claim 11, said channel guide member having an opening on the end thereof adjacent said hat member, enabling said end to be pulled against said third complementary means, for canting the channel guide member out of contact with said lock stop member to permit opening of said second member.

13. In a door lock as described in claim 12, said first complementary means comprising bolt, nut, and Washer assemblies.

14. In a door lock as described in claim 13, said second complementary means comprising bolt and nut assemblies.

\ 15. In a door look as described in claim 14, said third complementary means comprising spring-urged assemblies.

16. In a door lock as described in claim 15, said fourth complementary means comprising a spring-urged assembly.

17. In a door lock as described in claim 16, said fifth complementary means comprising bolt and nut assemblies.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,991,904 7/1961 Carideo 22044 3,089,330 5/1963 Kerr 7'0l40 3,111,833 11/1963 Dettmer 140 3,122,012 2/1964 Christopher 70140 3,161,429 12/1964 Ternoe et a1 292-34118 3,416,829 12/1968 Russell et al 292-341.19

ERNEST R. PURSER, Primary Examiner R. L. WOLFE, Assistant Examiner US. Cl. X.R. 

